MP 44 Phosphate finish

[bonteront2]

Hi all:
Can anyone tell me what is meant by a 'phosphated finish' on some MP 44's?
Why, if at all, is this more rare/desirable than the standard blued finish?
Does it suggest anything about the date of manufacture etc??
Thanks in advance.
-Ernst

[Bill Grist]

Generally

Hi all:
Can anyone tell me what is meant by a 'phosphated finish' on some MP 44's?
Why, if at all, is this more rare/desirable than the standard blued finish?
Does it suggest anything about the date of manufacture etc??
Thanks in advance.
-Ernst

Phosphate finish is usually associated with 'LATE WAR' German weapons.. Phosphate is a salt of phosphoric acid, when used in weapon finishing is is called phosphated, which gives a silver/grey finish to metal parts..very durable and easier,quicker, more economical that the long process of blueing salts..On US weapons with different chemicals is is called parkerizing...BILL

[petermac]

One of the nice things about a phosphate finish is that it's slightly porous so it holds oil and prevents rust slightly better than traditional blueing, it also has a natural matte finish so is less likely to reflect light. It was used late in WW2 because there was no longer the time or the skills necessary to produce blued weapons.
Peter

[MP44_tom]

This is my mp44 which is phosphated, so you can tell the difference



Tom
www.mp44.nl

[bodes]

One of the nice things about a phosphate finish is that it's slightly porous so it holds oil and prevents rust slightly better than traditional blueing, it also has a natural matte finish so is less likely to reflect light. It was used late in WW2 because there was no longer the time or the skills necessary to produce blued weapons.
Peter

I'm not sure I agree with the idea that phosphate finishes hold oil better....In my experience German phosphate finishes do not act well with petroleum products....I had a K98k (byf44) which was dual-toned....Was my first German rifle.....I kept a coat of gun oil on it....The phophate parts turned brown....The thing that is nice about the phosphate is the lack of attention....I believe they will hold up without the attention needed by traditional blued weapons.....Bodes

[petermac]

It's true that oil on a phosphate finish can take on a varnish like quality. I should have specified that where two parts wear against each other the oil in the finish acts as a lubricant held in the surface finish. I used to have a French MAS36 that had the heaviest phosphate finish possible and I never oiled the outside, only rubbed it with a lightly oiled, lint free cloth before I put it back in the cabinet.

It's a finish that I find really attractive, from the light grey 'ghost' finish of late war German pices, through Browning HPs to the battleship grey of my old MAS.

Peter

[WITTMANN.]

hello,

I back this subject area

one question comes to my mind al, is that this finish really existed on the German side during WW2??
or is that the finish is after war for VOPO for example.

thank you

[Willi Z.]

Yes, many late German firearms, as well as some of the fittings on late field gear, etc, had a phosphate finish. Bayonets, etc, as well.

[WITTMANN.]

Hello, and thank you for your answer, do you know which manufacturer used this finish for mp44 at the end of the war?

thank you for your help

vince

[4th division]

This is my mp44 which is phosphated, so you can tell the difference



Tom
www.mp44.nl

[dEVIL]

+1 !!
Great display Tom !!

PS: Do you still own all ?

[IMBLITZVT]

To my knowledge, the Germans never had that Gray phosphate like is on Toms MP44 during the war. The phosphate I have seen has always been clear, so it looks like bare metal. My MG42 parts kit that came from Dangola, which came out of Portugal had the bluing blasted off and this clear phosphate on it. Its very odd stuff and I have not seen it done in modern times. So I am guesing Toms MP44 was parkerized much more recently and is not original finish.

[pitfighter]

This one was amongst a large batch that came into Canada from Yugoslavia.
Felcon's armory has five live examples of them, they are as they arrived bearing a postwar phosphate finish - almost green in color.

[MP44_tom]

+1 !!
Great display Tom !!

PS: Do you still own all ?

Yes, i still have the mp44, and it probably never leaves my home

I know that the finish might be post war.... but the price was good when i bought it, and there are not many here in Holland, so I guess I'm lucky to own this one...

Tom
www.mp44.nl